Strapping machine



April 29, Y Wl Q cHlLnREss VE11-AL STRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 21., 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 una nl m v-2.

April 29 1952 w. c. cHlLnREss TAL 2,594,397

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 29, 1952 w. c. cHlLnRl-:ss ETAL 2594397 STRAPPIN'G MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 21, 1950 www,

I |||||H|| A" April 29, 1952 w. c. CHILDREss ETAL 2,594,397

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 21, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. 29, 1952 Ericsson, Chicago, Ill., assignors tov Isig-node Y Steel strapping-Company, fChicago, Ill., ac'orporation of Delaware IApplication J uly72'1, 1950,'Se`ialSNo. 175,166

y Y(i-Clailns. ,l` The present invention lrelates'generally Vtt'wh'at are known as strapping machines. Amachine'of this -type `andV in lmany respects similar to `'the present machineis' wellillustrated 'and'described inA Patent No; 2,497;313,.issued` li'ebrua'ryl 114, "1950, to' John HL Leslie II and'entitled Pa'ckageBinding Tool, Abut' whereas th'e'mahine forming the subject 'matter of that-patent is intendediprimarily A machine ofthis general character is intended to'befplaced upon or "against the object'to be strappedandfto be'connectedto vthe two ends-,oi

steel strapping surrounding the obj ect. TThemachine then, by* themanipulatio'n ,of two IShandles, will tension y the` strapping about fthe. object, will sever the portionpf strap to beilusedrma supply, will attach 'andcrimp a'sealtothe Soverlapped 'ends`A of thestrapping, `an`d"na1ly -will release4 the overlapped portion' df the "strapping worked upon so that the ltooltmayV beremoved. Themachine'also;automaticallyieeds seals one at'` a time from a'magaz'ineto' the crimping jaws as needed.

The `particular type joint formed'by" the ma-v chine of the'present invention' is like that. lshown in our-copending application; Serial'No.1l'6'8',196v

which' was filed June 15, "1950. Other typejoints may. of "coursef besubstitute'd by-'modifyingilthe folding land crimping mechanism". althoughwe prefer a "jointof lthetype vspecified 'since kit'ha's good Vholding power 'and *is comparatively ;fla"t,v

these advantagesYi being Vexplained in' ourlab'ove referred to copendin'giapp'lication.

'Oneof thel objects of the i present1 invention'is to providean'limprovedstrapping vmachine of the two lhandlef-type'V in which" both 'the'tensoningfand sealingare-accomplished by pull upon the handles Yrather than by a" pushing'op'eration; therebyffacilitating use of `the 4`machine particularly f with heavy strapping.

Yet :anothers object to yprovi'de vasnovelmachine of lthefgeneral gcharacter:sp'ecied fwliih'is so" arranged'that the machine-'may be connected to both f ends r of' `the 'strapping'4 with a minimum of feifort.

Still s another obj ect .-isft'of provide vrfa novel'- nia- 2 chine'of" this type `which may be easilyreleased from thefstrap' being tensioned about an object at eitherendof the strapso as to-shift the-position"of"thetool ifA it is lfound notto have "been properlylo'cated' when -thetensioning operation was started'.

Still another'object is 'to-providea` novel StrappingV machine having gripping jaws for holding the-free'end of the strap and-a feed'wheel for pulling'upon an-intermediateportion ofthe strap and inwhich simple'- movement of the tensioning handle-inthe normal or reverse direction, with respect to the direction o'ftensioning movement, opens 4the tool for *the reception of strapping at both thegripping jaws and the feed wheel.

Still'another Objectis toprovide a strapping machine `'havingthe-above'set out advantages and in whichthe'gripping jaw is closed by thesimple manual'movemerit 'of 'a"` trigger and in which' the feedfwheel islbrought against the strappingiautomatically bymoving the tensioning handle into the tensioning range.

Yet-another object is vto provide a strapping machine having the above-set out advantages and in whicheither'thefeed Wheel or the gripper may easil-'ybe released from the strap independently of Vthe other,V but inwhich with normal operation ofthe `tool both: the feedl wheelV and gripper willbe'released vfromthe strapping simultaneously and substantially automatically.

l'Other objectsand advantages will become vapparent'from ithe v`following description of a"'pre ferred embodiment of our invention which' is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In thedr'awings,

'Fig r1`is^a side viewof vatool which embodies the present invention as observed from the right;

Fig-l2' isfa` left hand sideviewofthe tool with portions of the structure'bein'g broken'awayto `reveal'details-of the mechanism in' vertical longitudinal section;

-Figi-3"isla'top view of the tool;

Fig. 41' isA afrontend view ofthe tool with portions 'thereof 4being broken away along the line "4--4 of'Figl soas better to revealthegripping mechanism ein transverse vertical section;

Fig'. 5l-is-a lvertical transverse sectional View which may l-be considered -as taken in the direction ofithearrows substantially along the line inner'face of the'gear'housing'and maybe conbottom base B which, when the tool is in use, rests upon a surface of the package or bundle X to be bound.

Frame A carries all of the operating mechanism which includes a gripper C for anchoring the lower or free end Y of the package encircling binder loop of strap and a loop tensioning gripper D which engages and bites into the upper end Z of the binder strap loop and upon rotation moves the upper end Z relative to the lower end Y to take up the slack in the loop and tension it tightly about the package.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings the tensioning handle, indicated generally by the numeral Ill, is within the tensioning range of movement but at about the,extreme right hand end thereof. That is this lever is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward the left by a pulling operation exerted by an operator standing to the left of the tool as shown and facing the tool. Under these conditions the feed wheel at D is normally closed against the strap and the gripper at C tightly engages the other strap end. Repeated rocking movement ofthe lever I9 from the position shown toward the left by means of a ratchet mechanism, to be explained presently, causes rotation of the feed wheel D in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 thereby tensioning the strap loop- When the handle I is pushed slightly to the right of the position shown in Fig. 1, the feed wheel D is raised away from the strapping and simultaneously the grippers at C are disconnected from the strap. The mechanism for accomplishing this will be describedin greater detail presently. j

The sealing lever is indicated at I2 and is shown in Fig. 1 in the position it assumes during the tensioning portion of the cycle. At the completion of the tensioning operation the handle I2 is pivoted about its shaft I4 upwardly and to the left thereby causing the sealing jaws, indicated at I6, to movedownwardly so as to sever the top layer of strapping from the coil and to apply a seal to the overlapped strap ends. This sealing motion is completed when the lever I2 is in approximately a horizontal position pointing to the left. During this sealing portion of the cycle the reloading mechanism I8, operating in conjunction with the magazine 20, causes a reloading nger to be pulledtoward the operator and from under the seals in the magazine thereby causing the lowermost seal to drop into alignment with a notch in the end of the nger so that at the completion of the sealing operation when the handle I2 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby opening the jaws I6 and raising them to the level shown in Fig. 1, a new seal is projected 'into position between the sealing jaws in readiness forthe next sealing operation.

The magazine arrangement and the sealing and strap cut off mechanism are essentially the same as those described in the above referred to patent and therefore need no additional description here beyond calling attention to the fact that the sealing lever is arranged so that it is pulled to the left rather than being pushed to the right, particularly since the invention to which the present application is directed is not concerned so much with the actual sealing and magazine feed arrangement, but more particularly with the tensioning and gripping mechanism and their relationship to the sealing mechanism.

4 this threaded plug being provided with teeth for gripping the lower surface of the strap.

Just above the base B is a pivoted gripping member 24 formed preferably as a forging which has a shaft portion 25 journalled at 26 to the left of the strap position as seen in Fig. 4. The outer or left hand end of the shaft portion 25 is splined or keyed or otherwise suitably connected in nonrotatable fashion to an upwardly extending lever 28, this lever being urged toward the left as seen in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 30, one end of which-engages the lever 28 above the center of rotation, the spring being coiled about the shaft 25 and having its opposite end hooked over a stationa-ry pin 3| so as to rotate the shaft 25 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2, or in clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, particularly, it will be seen that to the right of the bearing 26 the gripping member 24 carries a button 32 secured so as to project downwardly therefrom in register with the upper end of the threaded plug 22. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that this gripping button 32 is toward the right and below the axis of rotation of the member 24 so that the rotation of the latter in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 brings the gripping button 32 tightly against the upper end of the threaded plug 22, whereas movement of the lever 28 against ythe pressure exerted by the spring 30 lifts the button 32, thereby releasing the strap end engaged between this button and the upper end of the threaded plug 22. Furthermore, since the end of the strapping retained by the gripping mechanism C passes 'to the left of the machine as seen in Fig. 1, tension upon the strap toward the left causes the teeth of the gripping button 32 to bite more firmly into the strapping so as to prevent its slipping.

Above the gripping button 32 the gripping member 24 is formed to provide a horizontal slot 34 through which the upper layer of strap passes in a position parallel to the lower layer. In order to keep the strap in alignment with the feed wheel D it is preferable that this portion of the strap passing through the slot 34 be retainedin place against sidewise outward movement of more than a limited extent by a' snap latch, such as is shown at 36. A similar structure is shown in the previously referred to pattent and comprises merely a lever best seen in Fig. 3 which is pivoted about a screw 38 and is pressed downwardly by a coil spring 40. The lower surface of the lever 36 is shaped so that when the strap is pushed into the slot 34. from the side, the end of the lever 36 is cammed upwardly against the pressure of the spring 40 until as the strapreaches a position parallel to the strap between the gripping elements 32 and 22, there is a reentrant portion in the lower surface of the lever 36 which permits the outer end of the lever to snap downwardly and retain the strapping within the slot 34. When the outer end of the lever 36 is manually raised, however, the strap may be slid out of the slot laterally.

'Since the tension upon the button 32 may be considerable, it is preferable to supplement the bearing surface provided at 26 with a saddle 42 formed in the frame which engages a complementarily rounded upper surface 44 at the outer endof the rotatable member 24 in a position above the level of the two layers of strap.

At the end of the machine opposite the gripper C the tensioning device D comprises a-toothed feed-roll 50 which is mounted upon the squared endofa driving 'shaft 52 soasto rotate'therewith. This-shaft `is supported for-rotation `at the end ofv a pair of downwardlyinclinedarms 5A on the strapside of the tool and-56 onthe oppositeside, which* aresecured Iat their opposite'ends to a cross-shaftf53 which extendshorizontally through the base A in a position above and behind theV driving shaft 452. Thus `with reference to Fig. 1, when the-lower ends of the arms `Eiland 56 are swung toward thel center of the tool andl upwardly the feedlroll E6-is lifted above Aan opposi-ngfhard surfaced wear'platev against which the strap'is pressed by the feed wheel 56. Conversely, movement inthe opposite direction will bring the feed wheel against the strap thereby pressing it against the wear plate v6U so that rotation of the wheel 5D in a clockwise direction will cause strap @to move through the machine from right -to left.

fAt it'sfextreme lower end the arm-54 isf'ormed to provide' a finger t2 whichprevents outward movement of the stra-p once-it has been gripped beneath the'feed'wheel 5i). iinger62 is, ofvcourse,'also raised when the feed wheel v58 is raised, thereby permitting strap material to'be inserted laterally into a position beneath the feed wheel and lthis insertion is facilitated by providing the ringer 62 -with va wedge-'shaped camming surface 64 which acts-toV causetheedge of the strap impinging there-against to -be moved downwardly as it is pushed inwardly. I Referring to lFig. 2 of the drawings which shows the opposite side of the machine, it will be seenthatthe -link 56 journalling the'driving shaft` 52 is actually a casting formed as an open housing which serves to contain a gear'train and certain ratchetand pawl and other mechanisms. vThis housing v.B6-in 'which the shaft 52 is journalled is urged downwardly about its pivoting center at 58 by a vertical coil spring 66 which urges a following plunger 68 against al portion of the member 56 in a positionapproximately above the shaft 52. The other end of the spring is compressed by a plug 'I0 threaded into the upper end of the cylinder 12 -in the basev casting in which the spring is housed. The downward pressure of the spring 66 in a position approximately above the shaft 52 therefore urgesthe shaft 52 along with lthe linkingmembers 56 and`54 downwardly vso as to bring the feed wheel with considerable pressure against the strap between this feed `wheel and the wear plate 6U.

The 'handle I6 is forked at its lowerend to straddle aigear lli and the gear and handle are journalled to rotate Vupon the shaft 5B whichl passes-therethrough, both the gear and the lower end Yof the handle being confined within the housing 56 which has a Aslot in the upper end thereof to receive the handle,

A second gear 16 is secured upon a squared portion lil of the shaft 52 and is meshed with the gear 'H such that the two rotate together. Somewhat below the position of the handle a pair of side-by-side ratchets 86 are located within the case 56 and are pivoted about a pin 82 which is fixed to the side wall of the case. These ratchets have escapement teeth 84 adapted to engage the gear 16 so as to permit rotation of the gear in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2. The ratchet teeth are urged into engagement with the gear by springs 86. The reason fror'providing two side-by-side ratchets is that the teeth are spaced apart circumferentially a distance lequal approximately yto half the spacing of the gear teeth so that they operate alternately as the gear rotates vat twice the frequency of a single ratchet, thereby preventing reverse rotation of the gear at twice the number of positions as would a single ratchet.

In a position above the pivot pin 82 the ratchets have overhanging arms 88 which are engaged by a downward extension 9i] of thehandle il) when the handle is pushed away from the operator almost to the limit of its travel thereby causing these extensions to be pressed against the gear 'lwhich limits further movement of the handle Ill relative to the housing 56.

The handle is provided Vwith a spring loaded paw1'92 which engages the teeth of the gear 'I4 so as to cause rotation of this gear in a clockwise direction asl seen in Fig. 2 when the handle I0 is pulled toward the operator in the tensioning range'of movement. When the handle is pushed away from the operator the pawl escapes over-the teethof the'gear 'i4 so as not to cause rotation of the gear in the reverse direction. The pawl 92, which extends through and is journaled'for rotation on a pair of bearings E3 in a transversely drilled passage vin the handle ICI, has an extension l5 at the end toward the center line of the'tool provided with a camsurface 65 which, during the tensioning range of movement of the lever 16, does not influence operation of the pawl S2. However, when the handle It is pushedaway from the operator to the limit of its travel, this cam surface S5 rides upon an abutment 94 which is formed asa portion of the gear housing 56. This rotates the pawl 92 slightly in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 6 so as to raise the pawl out of engagement with the gear i4. The pawl is shown in this raised position in Fig. 2.

The above mechanism, Iit will be seen, will cause the 'feed wheel 50 to operate intermittently to tension metal strap about a bundle as the handle 'l0 is rocked baclrwardly and forwardly within the tensioning range, and that the tensioning effort will be applied to rotate the feed wheel 50 during the pulling portion of the cycle under which conditions the operator can apply a greater force'than can conveniently be applied by pushing.

When the lever i6 is pushed away from the operator to the end of its travel within the tensioning range such that the downward extension 96 of the handle is brought against the ratchets 66 and the pawl S2 has been released from the gear /i, it will be seen Ithat an additional push upon the handle iii will cause `the entire gear case 56 to pivot about the point established by the shaft 58, this additional pivoting motionbeing resisted by the spring 65. Thus whenever the handle I@ is pushed beyond the tensioning range, the result is to raise the feed wheel 5G away from the wear plate Sil so as to release the end of the strap being tensioned.

The handle whenever pushedint-o this position is retained therein by a spring loaded pin 96 extending transversely in the lower portion of the handle li! in a position just above the pawl 92. This pin is urged toward the longitudinal center line ofthe machine and has a hardened tapered nose which snaps into a socket Si formed inthe en'd of a hardened bolt 926 fixed in the frame'in the 'proper position. It lis best shown in Fig. 3. Thereforefwhen the handle E6 is pushed away from'the operator beyond the tensioning range so as to raise the feed 'wheel against the pressure of the spring 66, the tapered pin and socket just described latches the handle in the extreme position so that the feed wheel remains away from the wear plate 60 even though it is released by the operator. A slight pull upon the handle, however, will snap the pin 06 from the socket thereby returning the handle to the tensioning range and dropping the feed wheel 50 against the strapping.

In a position somewhat Ibelow and to the right as seen in Fig. 2 of the feed wheel shaft 52, the gear case 56 is connected by a horizontal pin |00 to a link |02 which extends toward the gripper handle 28. This link extends alongside and somewhat past, the gripper handle and there is bent away from the gripper handle so as to serve as a manually operable .trigger which is indicated at |04. At an intermediate portion of its length the link |02 passes through a vertical slot |06 formed in a portion of the frame A and is urged upwardly by a coil spring |08 located between the link and the bottom of the slot. This upward motion is resisted by a transverse pin which extends across the slot in a position above the link.

A notch |2 is formed in the upper edge of the link |02 at a point to the left of the pin ||0 as seen in Fig. 2 when the handle |0 is within the tensioning range. However, when the handle |0 is pushed beyond the tensioning range so as to rock the gear case 56, the link |02 is pushed toward the right as seen in Fig. 2 with the result that the notch |2 is brought into alignment with the pin l l0 and the link |02 snaps upwardly under the influence of the spring |08. The notch ||2 therefore, lin conjunction with the pin 0, acts'as a latch to prevent return movement of the link |02 toward the left until the trigger |04 is depressed.

The side of the gripper release handle 28 toward the link 02 is provided with a boss ||4 having a flat face ||6 which faces thevgear case 56. This face is engaged by the flat face ||8 of a similar boss formed upon the inside surface of the link |02 and spaced slightly to the left thereof when the handle |0 Iis within the tensioning range. Therefore when the handle |0 is pushed beyond the tensioning range and the link |02 is moved toward the right, as seen in Fig. 2, the two faces HS and H8 will be brought into engagement thereby urging the upper portion of the handle 20 to the left. This raises the gripper button 32 away from the end of the strap held r thereby in a manner previously described. Slightly thereafter when the notch |2 is brought into alignment with the pin |0 and the link |02 snaps upwardly, both the feed wheel and the gripper will be locked in open position even though the handle I0 is released.

Subsequently if the trigger |04 is depressed without moving the handle I0, the face ||8 of the boss formed as a portion of the link |02 will be moved downwardly out of register with the face ||6 of the boss ||4 attached to the handle 28 thereby permitting the handle 28 to snap forwardly under the influence of the spring 30 so as to close the gripping jaws.

Thereafter if the handle I0 is grasped and pulled toward the operator into the tensioning range, the feed wheel 50 will be brought against the upper layer of the strapping thereby preparing the tool for tensioning. When subsequently the tensioning handle is pushed away from the operator out of the tensioning range and to the limit of its travel, both the feed wheel and the gripper jaws will be open simultaneously for removal of the tool.

If a tensioning operation has been started and it is desired to release the feed wheel 50 from its end of the strapping without disturbing the gripper jaws at the opposite end of the strap, it is necessary merely to hold the trigger |04 down while rocking the handle I0 away from the operator beyond the tensioning range. Under these conditions the feed wheel 50 will be raised, but since the face ||8 of the boss which is carried by the link |02 is below the boss ||4, these two elements do not engage and thus the handle 28 is not moved toward the right as seen in Fig. 2. Once this operation has been performed, that is the handle has been moved so as to raise the feed wheel while the trigger |04 has been held'down, both the trigger and the handle |0 may be released so that the operator may -use both hands for shifting the position of the tool, since once the face I8 of the boss on the link |02 has-passed the face ||6 of the boss |I4 in its movement toward the right, movement of the link |02 in an upwardly direction does not bring about releasing movement of the handle 28.

Also if desired the end of the strap retained by the gripper C may be released without disturbing the position of the feed wheel 50 against the strap simply by manual movement of the lever 28 toward the right as seen in Fig. 2.

The above construction, it will be seen, provides for automatic opening of the gripper jaws and the feed wheel for the reception of strap whenever the handle I0 is moved away from the operator to the end of its stroke. Further the tool is locked in this position until the free end of the strap can be properly located beneath the sealing mechanism and in position to be engaged by the gripping mechanism. Thereafter depressing the trigger |04 locks the gripper in place upon the strap end thereby permitting the operator to devote his full attention to properly positioning the other end portion of the strap which leads to the roll from which the strapping is being taken. After the main portion of the strapping has been pushed sidewise into the strap track, which comprises the slot 34 in the upper portion of the gripper mechanism and the space between the feed wheel 50 and wear plate 60, the strap being retained in the slot 34 by the latch 36, movement of the lever I0 into the tensioning range lowers the feed wheel 50 and simultaneously brings the finger 62 into a position below the outer edges of the two layers of strap, thereby preventing their movement laterally from beneath the feed wheel 50. Thereafter by reciprocating the handle I0 the operator tensions the strap about the bundle with the excess strapping being passed off to the coil behind the operator.

If at any time it is desired to release either the feed wheel or the gripper individually, this can be accomplished in the first instance by moving the tensioning handle away from the operator out of the tensioning range while simultaneously depressing the trigger |04. Or in the other instance by simply moving the lever 20 toward the operator. In any event, after the bundle has been sufliciently tightly bound, the sealing lever is swung over and pulled toward the operator, thereby severing the portion of strapping to be used from the standing portion and applying a seal to the overlapped strap portions. Thereafter returning the sealing lever to its original position releases the seal and reloads the sealing jaws from the magazine automatically. When the tensioning lever is then moved away from the operator beyond the tensioning range, this locks open the gripping members and the feeding mechanastiest' -ing retained in the slot 34' where it may be easily graspedby the operator in preparation for a subsequent tensioning and .sealing cycle. f

Although we have described one embodiment as illustrative of ourinventiomit will be' appreciated that variationsand substitutions maybe made without departing from either the' scope or spirit of the invention, r'and .it isfunderstood'therefore that the invention is to be measured by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a bundle-binding Atool of the type having a fixed gripper for anchoring one end of aibridle encircling strap loop and a feed wheel for engaging and moving the other end of the loop to Vtension the loop, the combination of a frame having a. base for resting against a bundle being bound and providing a pair ofV strap supporting seats, one in line with the fixed gripper andthe other in line with the feed wheel, Aa pair'of links rotatably carrying the feed wheel between them, a pivot attaching the feed Wheel links to the frame so that the feed wheel may be bodily moved toward and retracted from the strap supporting seat in line therewith, a spring biasing the links to move the feed wheel toward Vthe strap'supporting seat in linetherewith, a tensioning handle attached to the frame by the pivotattaching there to the feed wheel carrying links, a pawl' connection between the tensioning handle and the'feed wheel whereby oscillation of the tensioning handle rotates the feed wheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and one of the'feed wheel carrying' links which enablesv the handle t'orock the links about their common pivot and thereby retract thev feed wheel bodily away from the strap supporting seat in line therewith, a latch for holding the links in feed wheel retracted position, a shaft for pivotally attaching the nXe'd gripper to the frame so that it may be moved toward andl retracted from the strap supporting seat in line therewith, a spring biasing the fixed gripper toward the seat in line therewith, an arm fixed tothe shaft'carrying the fixed gripper, a xed gripper actuating and holding lever pivoted to one of the feed wheel carrying links, a pair of interlocking lugs',one carried by the actuating and`holding lever' and the other by the arm on the fixed gripperi shaft, and a guide for'causing the lugbn the actuating` and holding lever to engage the lug on the arm of the fixed gripper shaft when the tension handle is moved to retract the feed wheel so that the feed wheel and fixed gripper are simultaneously retracted to open the tool for reception of strap, the holding lever manually movable to disengage the lugs to enable the xed gripper to be closed by its biasing spring without releasing the feed wheel.

2. In a bundle-binding tool of the type having a fixed gripper for anchoring one end of a bundle encircling strap loop and a feed Wheel for engaging and moving the other end of the loop to tension the loop, the combination of a frame having a base for resting against a bundle being bound and providing a pair of strap supporting seats, one in line with the fixed gripper and the other in line with the feed wheel, a pair of links rotatably carrying the feed wheel between them, a pivot attaching the feed wheel links to the frame eo that the feed wheel may be bodily moved toward and retracted from the strapV supporting seat in line' therewith, a spring biasing the links fao l0 to move the feed wheel toward the seat in line therewith, a tensioning handle attached to the frame by the pivot attaching thereto the feed Wheel carrying links, a pawl connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel whereby oscillation of the tensioning'handle rotates the feed wheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and one of thefeed wheel carrying links which enables the handle tov rock the links about their common pivot Vand thereby retract the feedr wheel bodily-away 'from the strap supporting seat in line therewith, alatch for holding the links in feed wheel retracted position, a shaft forpivotally attaching the fixed gripper to the frame so that it maybe moved toward and retracted from the strap supporting seat in line therewith, a spring biasing the xed gripper toward the seat in line therewith, an arm fixed to the shaftl carrying the fixed gripper, a fixed gripper actuating and holdingleverpivoted to one of the feed wheel carrying links, a pair of interlocking members, one carried by the actuating and holding lever and the other by the arm on the xed gripper shaft, a guide for causing said member on the actuating and holding leve'rto engage the inember on the arm of the xed gripper shaft/when the tension handle is moved to retract the feed wheel so that the feed wheel and fixed gripper are simultaneously retracted to open the tool forreception of strap, and a releasable latch cooperating with the actuating and holding lever to'retainv the Xed gripper retracted until said latch is'released. l

' 3. In a bundle-binding tool of the type having a xed gripper for anchoring one end of a bundle encircling loop of metallic strap and a feed wheel for engagingand moving the other end ofthe strap loop to tensionthe loop, the combination of 'a frame having a base for resting against the bundle being bound and providing a pair of spaced strap supporting seats, one in line with the fixed gripper and the other in line withthe feed wheel, a pair of links carryingthe feed'wheel between them and pivotally attached to the frame so that the feed wheel can be moved bodily toward and retracted from the strap seat in line therewith, a pivot attaching the fixed gripper to the'franie so that the fixed gripper can be moved toward and retracted from the strap seat in line therewith, a tensioning handle pivotally attached to the frame, a one way drive connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel for rotating the feedwheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel carrying links which becomes effective as the tensioning Ahandle approaches the limit of its stroke in feed wheel nonrotating direction to rotate the feed wheel carrying links to retract the feed wheel, a lever interposed between one of the feed wheel carrying links and the fixed gripper to retract the fixed gripper simultaneously with the retraction of the feed wheel, and a latch cooperating with said lever to retain both the feed wheel and the xed gripper in retracted position.

4. In a bundle-binding tool of the type lia-ving a fixed gripper for e" one end of a bundle encircling loop of metarnc s...rap and a feed wheel for and r oring the other end of the strap loep to tension the loop, the combination of a frame having a base for resting against the bundle being bound and providing a pair of spaced s ap supporting seats, one in line with the fixed gripper and *be other in line with the feed wheel, a pair of links carrying the feed Wheel between them and pivotally attached to the frame so that the feed wheel can be moved bodily tward and retracted from the strap seat in line therewith, a pivot attaching the fixed gripper to the frame so that the fixed gripper can be moved toward and retracted from the strap seat in line therewith, a tensioning handle pivotally attached to the frame, a one way drive connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel for rotating the feed Wheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel carrying links which becomes effective as the tensioning handle approaches the limit of its stroke in feed wheel nonrotating direction to rotate the feed wheel carrying links to retract the feed wheel, a lever interposed between one of the feed wheel carrying links and the fixed gripper to retract the fixed gripper simultaneously with the retraction of the feed Wheel, a latch cooperating with said lever to retain both the feed wheel and the fixed gripper in retracted position, said latch being operable to release the fixed gripper, and a spring for moving the fixed gripper toward the seat in line therewith when thus released.

5. In a bundle-binding tool of the type having a fixed gripper for anchoring one end of a bundle encircling strap loop and a feed wheel for engaging and moving the other end of the loop to tension the loop, the combination of a frame having a base for resting against a bundle being bound and providing a pair of strap supporting seats, one for the fixed gripper and the other for the feed wheel, a wheel support rotatably carrying the feed wheel, a pivot attaching the wheel support to the frame so that the feed wheel may be bodily moved toward and retracted from its strap supporting seat, means biasing the wheel support to move the feed wheel toward its strap supporting seat, a pivotally mounted tensioning handle, a one way driving connection between the tensioning handle and the feed Wheel whereby oscillation of the tensioning handle rotates the feed wheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and the wheel'support to pivot said support and feed wheel away from its seat when said handle is moved to the limit of its range in one direction, means pivotally attaching the fixed gripper to the frame so that it may be moved toward and retracted from its strap supporting seat. means biasing the fixed gripper toward its seat, an arm for pivoting the fixed gripper, a. fixed gripper actuating and holding member connected to said wheel support, a pair of opposing members on said holding member and arm and adapted to engage when the tension handle is moved to retract the feed wheel so that the feed wheel and fixed gripper are simultaneously retracted to open the tool for reception of strap, and means for independently latching both said feed wheel and said fixed gripper in retracted position.

6. In a bundle-binding tool of the type having a fixed gripper for anchoring one end of a bundle encircling loop of metallic strap and a feed wheel for engaging and moving the other end of the strap loop to tension the loop, the combination of a frame having a base for resting against the bundle being bound, retractable feed wheel supporting means attached to the frame so that the feed wheel can be moved bodily toward and away from a strap feeding position, retractable gripper supporting means attaching the gripper to the frame so that the gripper can be moved toward and retracted from a strap gripping position, a tensioning handle mounted for pivoting movement, a one way drive connection between the tensioning handle and the feed Wheel for rotating the feed wheel in one direction only, an operative connection between the tensioning handle and the feed wheel supporting means effective as the tensioning handle approachesthe limit of its stroke in one direction to retract the feed wheel, linkage means interposed between the feed wheel supporting means and the gripper to re- WILLIAM C. CHILDRESS. ARVID I. ERICSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,503,237 Guenther July 29, 1924 1,939,746 WhitmanV Dec. 19, 1933 2,368,969 Cleveland Feb. 6, 1945 2,497,313 Leslie Feb. 14, 1950 

